Click through the gallery below for some excerpts of Carroll’s news conference with media Monday, his first since returning to Seattle.

Photo: David Welker / Getty Images

Image 1of/17

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll's opening comments:</b>
<br/>"After watching the film and seeing this game, it was a very hard one to take. We had some great opportunities in this game. We did some really good things at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and enough good stuff that we would have liked to come out here with a win. The special teams effort that (the Rams) put up -- the kicker did a great job, had some historic kicks, and a couple big plays in the special teams made a difference, and it was closer we wanted it to be.
<br/>"The issues for us on both sides of the ball are on third down. We had big issues on third-and-long on defense, and third down in general on offense. That’s where we have to focus and get our stuff right. There are enough good things out there to win a game, but the Rams came out with it. So we have to go back and work real hard and get this going. We came out of this game pretty healthy in pretty good shape, so we’ll go right back to work ,and see if we’ll put together and continue to grow in the things we need to work on."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll's opening comments:</b>
<br/>"After watching the film and seeing this game, it was a very hard one to take. We had some great opportunities in ... more

Photo: David Welker / Getty Images

Image 2 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On the status of backup QB Matt Flynn:</b>
<br/>"Matt has been the backup throughout this time, ever since we came out of camp. Back then, right at the last preseason game, he’s had a sore elbow. When Russell took over, we gave him all of the turns we could give him, and in that he took all the work. So Matt hasn’t had a lot of work. We’ve hoped it would help the elbow situation. He’s never thrown a lot in any of the practice, he’s just done what we’ve asked him to do.
<br/>"We counted on him to play every game. We haven’t had a third quarterback on the roster because Matt can play. But we have had a pitch count for him and made sure we didn’t work him past what we thought was too much. The one week we did, which was the Packer week, we called on him because of the familiarity. He had a great week that week and it looked like he’s ready to go. Even with that it was a limited amount of throws that week and we’ve never had him throw the amount of throws that a starting quarterback does. I think we brought him along fine, and he’s been ready and anxious to play in every game."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On the status of backup QB Matt Flynn:</b>
<br/>"Matt has been the backup throughout this time, ever since we came out of camp. Back then, right at the last preseason game, he’s ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

Image 3 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if Flynn has had a setback now:</b>
<br/>"No, we just have not gone beyond the numbers that we’ve set for him. He’s been at every practice, he’s been available to us and all, but Russell gets all but every snap, and Josh Portis has played a lot for us as our service team quarterback. They have shared plays except for during the Packer week; that’s when Matt threw the most."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if Flynn has had a setback now:</b>
<br/>"No, we just have not gone beyond the numbers that we’ve set for him. He’s been at every practice, he’s been available to us and ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

Image 4 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if Flynn is ready to play:</b>
<br/>"Matt’s ready to play. Matt’s ready to play. We just don’t know what’s going to happen if he gets a lot of work. He might be alright, we don’t know that, but we have not taken him there yet. He’s ready to play in every game and he’s ready to go in the very next play we need him. So the competition goes on in my mind as it does with every position on our football team: Guys continue to compete. He hasn’t had the opportunity because we give the starter all of the reps, and with a young guy in his first time, we’re giving him every single snap. So that’s how this has gone throughout."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if Flynn is ready to play:</b>
<br/>"Matt’s ready to play. Matt’s ready to play. We just don’t know what’s going to happen if he gets a lot of work. He might be ... more

Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images

Image 5 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>Clarifying Flynn's injury status:</b>
<br/>"He’s just had soreness for a long time. He’s been okay to throw, but we’re just trying to make sure (the problem) goes away, and limit it. It works out that he gets so few turns in practice that we’re just counting his throws all the time. We know what’s going on and how he’ll respond. The fact that he can play and the fact that we have dressed him for every games tells you what we think."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>Clarifying Flynn's injury status:</b>
<br/>"He’s just had soreness for a long time. He’s been okay to throw, but we’re just trying to make sure (the problem) goes away, and ... more

Photo: Stephen Brashear / Associated Press

Image 6 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if Flynn could still win the starting job back:</b>
<br/>"I told Matt from the start that the door is not closed on this. He knows it and so does Russell, and everybody on our team knows that. You got to keep playing and performing day in and day out. You never know what’s going to happen; guys have to be ready. The competition is on. He’s known that from the beginning."</fong></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if Flynn could still win the starting job back:</b>
<br/>"I told Matt from the start that the door is not closed on this. He knows it and so does Russell, and everybody on our ... more

Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images

Image 7 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On how evaluating QBs is different from other players:</b>
<br/>"The position is so vastly unique that it does call for a whole different way of looking at it, the depth of the evaluation of what’s going on and why. It’s just a whole different world. It’s the most difficult position to play in sports. It does call for a different standards, perspectives, and evaluation tools. There is so much more to it."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On how evaluating QBs is different from other players:</b>
<br/>"The position is so vastly unique that it does call for a whole different way of looking at it, the depth of the ... more

Photo: Tom Gannam / Associated Press

Image 8 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On what he's looking for in Russell Wilson:</b>
<br/>"Well there’s a lot of stuff. We want to make sure he’s doing the things we ask him to do, which he is, he’s working really hard at it. We want to see what our success is, we want to see what the results are. We’ve played all of these games, and here’s a first-time starter, and he’s been in every game and had a chance to win. He’s won one of them, and two of them have gotten away at the end. He gets all of the credit and attention for that, but we all contribute to that.
<br/>"He’s not far off from being really, really successful right now as a leader in that position. I’ve been amazed that he’s done so much and has done so well, and has played how he has played. I wish we could have had the benefits of the rewards of those two terrific wins. It would’ve been three terrific wins with what we amounted to. But we’re <em>that</em> close, and so we’re going to keep working hard at it and try to make those plays happen, and make the difference and close out the issue, finish these games off and make sure everyone is doing their part. There’s a lot going on. It’s not just one guy.</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On what he's looking for in Russell Wilson:</b>
<br/>"Well there’s a lot of stuff. We want to make sure he’s doing the things we ask him to do, which he is, he’s working ... more

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Image 9 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On how he has evaluated Wilson's game:</b>
<br/>"He did some really good things in the game. Again, his completion percentage is up there. The throws that got away from us, the three turnovers, were huge in the game, but all three of them were situations where he couldn’t do a whole lot about them. The ball could have been a little sharper on the throw to Doug (Baldwin). He could’ve gotten the ball of earlier on the blitz situation when he got hit. Then unfortunately Anthony (McCoy) fell down on the breakout route late in the game. He was throwing the ball right there, and he slipped and fell. You can’t do much about that one.
<br/>"He wasn’t sloppy with it, he didn’t miss his reads in particular, it wasn’t a big mistake and he wasn’t careless with the ball at all. He hasn’t been at any time."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On how he has evaluated Wilson's game:</b>
<br/>"He did some really good things in the game. Again, his completion percentage is up there. The throws that got away from us, the ... more

Photo: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images

Image 10 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if he feels Wilson is the best option right now:</b>
<br/>"We’re going with Russell right now and he’s working his tail off to get it right. There are a lot of guys that figure into what’s going on, and he’s one of them. So we’re just trying to get better."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if he feels Wilson is the best option right now:</b>
<br/>"We’re going with Russell right now and he’s working his tail off to get it right. There are a lot of guys that ... more

Photo: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images

Image 11 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if Wilson was overlooking receivers:</b>
<br/>"Well, certainly on the scramble. The one we all want back is the one to Zach (Miller). He had a chance to dump the ball to Zach and he throws to Sidney (Rice) on the back end. The way that turned out, I think that would have been an easy play for Zach to make. He had a shot at Sidney in the back, but that would have been an easy chance for us to make a touchdown. That’s the one I think we regret most of all because it would’ve changed the game."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if Wilson was overlooking receivers:</b>
<br/>"Well, certainly on the scramble. The one we all want back is the one to Zach (Miller). He had a chance to dump the ball to Zach ... more

Photo: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images

Image 12 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On what happened on third downs:</b>
<br/>"There’s a variety of things. The protection was tough at times and (Wilson) didn’t miss too many throws. He went to his guys, but there were a couple of times he didn’t get the ball off like we would’ve liked rhythm-wise. Some things happened -- they knock some balls down and made some good plays, a little bit of everything. Unfortunately we never got really sharp and on rhythm with it.
<br/>"So we continued to work at it, and this is an area that is very challenging and very difficult. We worked quite a bit against each other in practice. And we’ll do more this week just to continue to try to catch up on reps that are necessary for us, so he can feel quick and get rid of the football, and feel certain about where he’s going, and all of that. And we need to help him, we need to run the routes right and catch the ball when we get a chance, and all of that."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On what happened on third downs:</b>
<br/>"There’s a variety of things. The protection was tough at times and (Wilson) didn’t miss too many throws. He went to his guys, but ... more

Photo: David Welker / Getty Images

Image 13 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On why third-and-long has been a struggle:</b>
<br/>"It shouldn’t be. It just shouldn’t be. There’s just been issues. We’ve missed some opportunities, we’ve had some great plays to be made get away. I can’t believe that we’re not going to put it away now. There were five plays in the game with 90 yards worth of offense on third-and-10-plus. That just doesn’t happen very often. So we have a couple of things that we’re adjusting to make sure that it doesn’t continue, because that’s the easiest opportunity we can look for. We’re kind of better when it’s harder than when it’s easier, so we need to clean that up."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On why third-and-long has been a struggle:</b>
<br/>"It shouldn’t be. It just shouldn’t be. There’s just been issues. We’ve missed some opportunities, we’ve had some ... more

Photo: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images

Image 14 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On the performance of RB Robert Turbin:</b>
<br/>"I thought he burst on it pretty good. He really got a good chance. He really was feeling the line of scrimmage, he hit the hole hard, he ran tough, and he finished his runs really well, and he took care of the ball great. I thought it was a really productive day. I think this was the first time in the regular season that he really felt great about what he was doing and playing fast. He’s been contributing on teams, he’s been spotting in, and hopefully that was a really good indicator that he’s ready to play a bigger role, and help us out. That’s two terrific efforts by (Turbin and Marshawn Lynch). That’s exactly what we would hope to have seen from Robert, so it’s pretty exciting."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On the performance of RB Robert Turbin:</b>
<br/>"I thought he burst on it pretty good. He really got a good chance. He really was feeling the line of scrimmage, he hit the hole ... more

Photo: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images

Image 15 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if he'll give Turbin more work:</b>
<br/>"I think we just feel it as we go. We’re happy to put him in the game and not hesitant at any time or in any situation. You can see that he is a really good pass catcher, as well. He does pass-pro well. So there is no reason to not have him in. The mix was pretty good right there, and for years if I had a couple guys playing the position, you go with who’s hot and what looks best. I thought Marshawn (Lynch) played a fantastic game. He was physical and tough and they couldn’t get him down, and had some terrific finishes to runs. And then Turb went in and did the same. You could see there’s a little style difference, which is good. So we’ll just keep moving ahead."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On if he'll give Turbin more work:</b>
<br/>"I think we just feel it as we go. We’re happy to put him in the game and not hesitant at any time or in any situation. You can see ... more

Photo: David Welker / Getty Images

Image 16 of 17

<big><font color="000000"><b>On guard James Carpenter:</b>
<br/>"James played really well. He did a very, very good job. He had a couple errors in the game, but you just about have to anticipate something is going to happen. We ran a lot to the left and he did a really good job of covering his guy up. He did a really good job for his first time out."</font></big>
<br/> less

<big><font color="000000"><b>On guard James Carpenter:</b>
<br/>"James played really well. He did a very, very good job. He had a couple errors in the game, but you just about have to anticipate something is ... more